Call for student initiative

Certainly, generous fee waivers don’t take care of the cost of test prep books. However, SAT books can be bought used or even found at a library. It matters not if they are old and used—the last time anyone made any drastic changes to classical physics was probably in the 1920s.

Test prep may not even help as much as some think it does. According to Michele Hernandez, a former assistant dean of admissions to Dartmouth, “[i]t is not uncommon…to raise a verbal score from 450 to 600…What is almost impossible is to jump into the 720 to 800 range, even if you are starting in the high 600s. With a few exceptions, the students who score over 740 or so are simply voracious readers.” So you want test prep? It’s free, right at your local school or library—if you can tear yourself away from your TV or iPod.

I do agree that socioeconomic status should not bar one from going to college, but most places aren’t as competitive as Stanford. The ETS will gladly tell you that 90 percent of America’s students go on to their first choice colleges. It is only a minority of a minority that must worry about “the top colleges.”

I wonder exactly what you mean when you say that nobody should be barred from the college that he or she “deserves” to go to and then mention “the top colleges” in the same breath.

I am sorry and amused that students and parents are so obsessed with these “top colleges” that they seem to have forgotten the hundreds of other colleges in America, and moreover, forgotten that true intellectual achievment is born out of a love for learning, not a lust for prestige.

–Jane Huang, Gunn alumna

Ways around costly test prep

I agree that “socio-economic status should never force a student out of a college he or she deserves to go to.” However, last month’s editorial glosses over valuable resources available to the cost-conscious student.

The Oracle cited expensive test prep businesses “that prey off [students’] test-taking insecurities.” Test prep, however, is not always expensive, as frugal students have a wealth of free service options. For example, Learning Express offers excellent online SAT courses available to anyone with a Palo Alto library card. One may also borrow test prep books through the College and Career Center. I used both of these services to prepare for my SAT I & IIs without spending a dime.

In addition, Gunn offers Basic College Skills, a UC-approved English course that (and this is straight from the Course Catalog) “is designed to help students achieve higher scores on the PSAT, SAT I, SAT II and ACT college entrance examinations.” What a deal! A semester’s worth of free test tutoring and English credit.

One should not attack the companies that have sprung up around the college admissions process. They only exist because there is a demand for these services—a demand that comes from students.

Therefore, change in the admissions process must come from us. Students should use the free services available to them and save their money for college.

–Senior Erik Petigura

Inappropriate performance

I feel that the rap performance at the Dec. 3 Tijuana benefit concert was ridiculous and distasteful. The three boys not only made utter fools of themselves but were also completely insulting in the process.

By using offensive language, they had no sensitivity for students, parents or other listeners. In my opinion, the severe line is not only the stupidest thing I have ever heard, but it is also very insulting to me and probably to everybody else who might come across it.

“The Majestic” also said many other insulting things in the “song,” and probably just for laughs. I happen to know a student on the Portola Valley soccer team, an innocent one at that, and I was very insulted by the comments about the team.

I think that “The Majestic” is a group of naive and insensitive kids who take pleasure in insulting those around them. I only hope they learn soon how truly immature they are.

–Senior David DeFrenza